The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-11
1.-THE TIPS OF THE FINGERS. -


the great cause of the enlargement of the
masses from the church, is that 1--WE touch
them with the tips of our fingers" he bore
hard upon his ministerial brethren and the
spoke the truth. The fact that an estrange-
ment exists will, at least. not be denied. In
any city-in Indianapolis, for instance, which
is notably city of church-goers-the
majority of the people DO not attend religious
services. On Sunday mornings, when the
congregations are largest, no church audito-
rum is crowded, and few but have dismal
rows of unoccupied seats. On Sunday nights
and at evening services through the week the
attendance is painfully small, and is confined,
some wicked person has expressed it, to
the regular patrons, people whose salvation is
supposed to have been assured long since,
and whose souls would not be imperiled were
they to be crowded out of their pews now
and then, say by the rush Of strangers seeking
after righteousness. The strangers, however,
do not come. They are following their own
Devices some with their feet in ways that
lead to death and some in innocent paths, but
all with their faces turned from the ordained
Interpreters of spiritual truth. This is not
that they are hostile to the church. There is
little open antagonism toward existing Chris
tan organizations. On the contrary, the
tendency is rather the reverse. The people
who seldom enter houses of worship are not
necessarily irreligious in other particulars. but
may be kindly disposed to all good works.
There is, however, a barrier, impalpable
something, which holds them aloof from the
professedly religious element of society. They
are not drawn in that direction by sense of
kinship; they not assured that their pres
ence would be welcome; they are touched
with the tips of the fingers"
In speaking of the masses Bishop Hurst re-
fers to the poorer classes, though these do not
constitute the entire body of the non church
goers by any means. But the "poor" may bo
very respectable; they may be intelligent and
self-respecting; are apt to be SO, indeed, in
this land of equality. It's, possibly, their duty
to accept gratefully and graciously all efforts
to improve their spiritual condition; but is a
thoroughly human trait which leads them to
reject the crumbs tossed to them from the ia
bles of brethren who are better supplied than
they with food for the soul. Mr.. Lowell spoke
once of certain condescension of foreign
ers;" certain condescension of Christians to
sinners is common and very effectual means
e - of o1
depraved wretch may be excused for resenting
the patronage of saint One way in which
this patronage is exhibited is the building by
wealthy congregations of cheap mission
churches. The society establishes for itself a
house of worship costing hundred thousand
or two hundred thousand dollars. Later,
when surrounded by all the accessories of lux
urious devotion, it bethinks itself of its neigh
Dor, and resolves to do its duty by providing
him with church.
Some where in the suburbs plain, cheap,
bare little house is built. 1t is unattractive,
withcat and within, but the neighbor, whom
wa are taught to love as ourselves, is hidden
to enter with air as of saying, eft is good
enough" He is touched with the tips Of
the fingers" He is not invited into the
finer building; he is not wanted there. A
former minister of indianapolis mixed with
the common people, and from the highways
and byways drew all classes-gamblers, topers.
Magdalens among the rest-to hear his pulpit
teachings. A worthy official, scandalized by
this Eruption of sinners into the sanctuary,
could only gasp in Mortified response to con-
gratulations on the drawing" power of his
pastor: ''But think of the kind of people
who GOMEZ"
1t is precisely this feeling Of exclusion, the
idea that only those of good social landing
are fit to enter the house of God, that the
redeemed are somehow contaminated by con-
tact with the unregenerate poor, that makes
so many costly churches echoing vaults of
emptiness. If the half million dollars locked
up in half dozen churches within circuit
of as many blocks in indianapolis, had been
expended in building twenty unpretentious
but commodous structures, the accommoda-
tons would not then be too great for the
people to whom the gospel should be
preached.
If, having these churches, the brethren,
remembering that it was not the righteous
but sinners whom the Master came to save,
would use every effort to bring these people
in and, once there, would make them well
come on equal terms, reserving no privileges to
themselves, the enlargement of the masses
would cease to be problem for ecclesi-
astical consideration. When the exclusive
spirit is done away with evangelists will no
longer find it necessary to hold their meetings
in public halls or the street corners in or
der to avoid the chilling spirit of the churches.
With Christians and church-goers filled with
the true missionary spirit. laborers like Mr..
Ben Hogan will not complain that they are
not aided and encouraged in their work. Mr..